The Watts family bought the dairy at 20 Albert St. in 1929 and increased the business from one to seven carts. From Albert St. they moved to Rialway Parade. In the beginning their milk came from a family dairy farm located in Moorabbin but after the Government required all milk to be pasteurised they obtained their milk from Crumps' dairy in Surrey Hills as was more efficientBlack and white photograph of the house and dairy belonging to the Watts family. House painted white and the dairy on the side of the brick building.dairies, watts' blackburn dairy, railway parade blackburn, watts don

Land along the Yarra River in Kew is now either designated open space, parkland or public golf links. By the 1930s much of this area remained open farmland, bought at auction for dairy farming in the 1840s.Original, black and white positive print of what is said to be the Yarra Flats near Burke Road Bridge. On the horizon, building can be seen, whereas in the middle ground, farm fencing and a windmill are the main features as well as remnant Eucalypts. Inscribed verso: "Yarra Flats near Burke Rd Bridge 1937" studley park -- kew (vic.)

The photo is of ‘Spenceycroft’ at 654 Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills. For many years this home was hidden behind a large fence sheltering it from the noise of traffic along Canterbury Road, however it dates back to the very early days of settlement in the Surrey Hills area. Canterbury Road was then known as Delany’s Road. ‘Spenceycroft’ is thought to incorporate part of the original farmhouse built on the site by George Klepper, who planted a vineyard in the area. George’s family was one of a number of German families who settled in Surrey Hills during the later part of the 19th century. Later, the land associated with ‘Spenceycroft’ was worked as a dairy farm by James and Elizabeth Rayment. In recent years 'Spenceycroft' has been sold several times and has become increasingly derelict. Sold again in 2015 when it had become quite derelict, it was demolished and re-developed.A black & white photo of double-fronted Victorian style home with a fountain centre front and low foliage in front of the veranda. A woman is sitting by the fountain. 'spenceycroft', canterbury road, james rayment, elizabeth rayment, george klepper

George's grandfather was James Rayment Snr (1817-1890). He was born in Essex, England. He arrived in Melbourne aboard the “Bengal” in 1840. He married Jane McKnight on 12 March 1861. She died in 1871. James lived in South Melbourne until he married Elizabeth Brown in 1873. He moved to “Spenceycroft” at 654 Canterbury Road in 1880 - the property had a dairy. He moved to 85 Croydon Road, Surrey Hills (the house still stands) in 1886 but still ran the dairy. He moved back to South Melbourne and died there in 1890. His son James Rayment Jnr (1862-1916) was born in Emerald Hill. He married Harriet Ratten in 1882 and lived at 85-87 Croydon Rd Surrey Hills until 1914. He also owned properties at 70,72,81 and 83 Croydon Road. Harriet died in 1897. He married Victoria Benbow in 1898. In 1912 his occupation was fishmonger. In 1914 he moved to “The Wattles” at 95 Middlesex Road, Surrey Hills. In 1919 his wife Victoria owned lots 45,47,49,51,53,55 Durham Road. Surrey Hills. He died 1916 and Victoria died in 1939. James, the third, lived in Middlesex Road, Surrey Hills where he and his wife had a flower and vegetable farm. His brother was George Leslie Rayment (1894-1976), known as Les, the subject of this photo. He was born in Boroondarra. He lived at 85 Croydon Road, Surrey Hills. In 1914 he enlisted and served in the HQ staff 3rd Light Horse Brigade and was promoted to Staff Sergeant. In 1916 he was discharged for family reasons, those being that his father had died and there was no-one at home to support the family in Middlesex Road. In 1918 he married Grace Lewis at the Highfield Methodist Church. In 1919 they moved into “Clovelly”, 94 Durham Road, Surrey Hills. In 1927 his wife Grace died and in 1933 he married Celia Lewis. In 1936, with the help of his brother James, they built their new house at 14 Benwerrin Road, Surrey Hills. Celia died in 1967 and Les in 1976. Les had 2 children Dr Dulcie Grace Rayment and Norma Lesley Rayment. (Information courtesy of Mel Constable; Mel's wife is a Rayment descendant). Les' brother, James Arthur Rayment, was born in Balwyn in 1889. His A.I.F. record states - he joined on the 14 July 1915 to the 5th Field Company Engineers. His father was living in Middlesex Road, Surrey Hills at the time of his enlistment. He returned to Australia and was discharged on 22/7/1919. His occupation was carpenter; his religion, Methodist. He was 26 years and 2 months at enlistment and left Australia on 23/11/1915. James Arthur Rayment married Lilian Sarah Smith in 1920 (Ref: Victoria 1920/6780). REF: Mrs Dorothy Legg - James Rayment and his wife Elizabeth lived and farmed in Russell Street in the 1860s. The land was a dairy property and may have included some of the land later owned by the Presbyterian Church. Their sons James and Alex walked to the Balwyn State School. James married and lived at 'The Wattles' in Middlesex Road.Black and white photo of George Leslie Rayment in AIF uniform, standing with his hands behind his back. armed forces, world war, 1914 - 1918, clothing and dress, (mr) george leslie rayment, les rayment

The Hedge, aka Thomas Knee's house. Thomas Samuel Knee (born c. 1881in Lilydale) married Jane Maggs c. 1912, Thomas Samuel Knee's father Thomas Knee (married to Sarah Hardidge and who it appears was also an orchardist in Yarra Road) was rated for the land as vacant land at the turn of the century (c. 1900) Thomas Samuel Knee rated as owner of vacant land (CA14B of over 20 acres1911-12 and as a house 1912-13, next year CA 14C added making a total of 39 acres. It appears that Thomas Samuel Knee and his wife Jane lived at the property until 1949 when they moved to Montrose. In 1949 it was purchased by Hubert Victor (Vic) Eggleton after they migrated from Banstead in Surrey England. They had four boys Peter (who did a lot of the farming with Gladys), Brian, Michael and Roger. It was mixed farming: lemons, cherries, eggs, chickens and Gladys bred Spaniel dogs too. They had 2 dairy cows and a draft horse. The farm was larger then and was subdivided at a later date. The big dam was added too. the painting of the house was painted by a cousin of the Lusks. Ownership: Thomas Samuel Knee 1912-1949, Eggletons, 1949 - c.1953, then Timms, c. 1953 - early 1970s then Lusks early 1970s to c. 2012. The Lusks built a new house and after that the old house had various tenants.

The Hedge, aka Thomas Knee's house. Thomas Samuel Knee (born c. 1881in Lilydale) married Jane Maggs c. 1912, Thomas Samuel Knee's father Thomas Knee (married to Sarah Hardidge and who it appears was also an orchardist in Yarra Road) was rated for the land as vacant land at the turn of the century (c. 1900) Thomas Samuel Knee rated as owner of vacant land (CA14B of over 20 acres1911-12 and as a house 1912-13, next year CA 14C added making a total of 39 acres. It appears that Thomas Samuel Knee and his wife Jane lived at the property until 1949 when they moved to Montrose. In 1949 it was purchased by Hubert Victor (Vic) Eggleton after they migrated from Banstead in Surrey England. They had four boys Peter (who did a lot of the farming with Gladys), Brian, Michael and Roger. It was mixed farming: lemons, cherries, eggs, chickens and Gladys bred Spaniel dogs too. They had 2 dairy cows and a draft horse. The farm was larger then and was subdivided at a later date. The big dam was added too. the painting of the house was painted by a cousin of the Lusks. Ownership: Thomas Samuel Knee 1912-1949, Eggletons, 1949 - c.1953, then Timms, c. 1953 - early 1970s then Lusks early 1970s to c. 2012. The Lusks built a new house and after that the old house had various tenants.

The Hedge, aka Thomas Knee's house. Thomas Samuel Knee (born c. 1881in Lilydale) married Jane Maggs c. 1912, Thomas Samuel Knee's father Thomas Knee (married to Sarah Hardidge and who it appears was also an orchardist in Yarra Road) was rated for the land as vacant land at the turn of the century (c. 1900) Thomas Samuel Knee rated as owner of vacant land (CA14B of over 20 acres1911-12 and as a house 1912-13, next year CA 14C added making a total of 39 acres. It appears that Thomas Samuel Knee and his wife Jane lived at the property until 1949 when they moved to Montrose. In 1949 it was purchased by Hubert Victor (Vic) Eggleton after they migrated from Banstead in Surrey England. They had four boys Peter (who did a lot of the farming with Gladys), Brian, Michael and Roger. It was mixed farming: lemons, cherries, eggs, chickens and Gladys bred Spaniel dogs too. They had 2 dairy cows and a draft horse. The farm was larger then and was subdivided at a later date. The big dam was added too. the painting of the house was painted by a cousin of the Lusks. Ownership: Thomas Samuel Knee 1912-1949, Eggletons, 1949 - c.1953, then Timms, c. 1953 - early 1970s then Lusks early 1970s to c. 2012. The Lusks built a new house and after that the old house had various tenants.

The Hedge, aka Thomas Knee's house. Thomas Samuel Knee (born c. 1881in Lilydale) married Jane Maggs c. 1912, Thomas Samuel Knee's father Thomas Knee (married to Sarah Hardidge and who it appears was also an orchardist in Yarra Road) was rated for the land as vacant land at the turn of the century (c. 1900) Thomas Samuel Knee rated as owner of vacant land (CA14B of over 20 acres1911-12 and as a house 1912-13, next year CA 14C added making a total of 39 acres. It appears that Thomas Samuel Knee and his wife Jane lived at the property until 1949 when they moved to Montrose. In 1949 it was purchased by Hubert Victor (Vic) Eggleton after they migrated from Banstead in Surrey England. They had four boys Peter (who did a lot of the farming with Gladys), Brian, Michael and Roger. It was mixed farming: lemons, cherries, eggs, chickens and Gladys bred Spaniel dogs too. They had 2 dairy cows and a draft horse. The farm was larger then and was subdivided at a later date. The big dam was added too. the painting of the house was painted by a cousin of the Lusks. Ownership: Thomas Samuel Knee 1912-1949, Eggletons, 1949 - c.1953, then Timms, c. 1953 - early 1970s then Lusks early 1970s to c. 2012. The Lusks built a new house and after that the old house had various tenants.

The Hedge, aka Thomas Knee's house. Thomas Samuel Knee (born c. 1881in Lilydale) married Jane Maggs c. 1912, Thomas Samuel Knee's father Thomas Knee (married to Sarah Hardidge and who it appears was also an orchardist in Yarra Road) was rated for the land as vacant land at the turn of the century (c. 1900) Thomas Samuel Knee rated as owner of vacant land (CA14B of over 20 acres1911-12 and as a house 1912-13, next year CA 14C added making a total of 39 acres. It appears that Thomas Samuel Knee and his wife Jane lived at the property until 1949 when they moved to Montrose. In 1949 it was purchased by Hubert Victor (Vic) Eggleton after they migrated from Banstead in Surrey England. They had four boys Peter (who did a lot of the farming with Gladys), Brian, Michael and Roger. It was mixed farming: lemons, cherries, eggs, chickens and Gladys bred Spaniel dogs too. They had 2 dairy cows and a draft horse. The farm was larger then and was subdivided at a later date. The big dam was added too. the painting of the house was painted by a cousin of the Lusks. Ownership: Thomas Samuel Knee 1912-1949, Eggletons, 1949 - c.1953, then Timms, c. 1953 - early 1970s then Lusks early 1970s to c. 2012. The Lusks built a new house and after that the old house had various tenants.

This photograph shows a young boy hand-milking a cow in the Animal Nursery at the Royal Melbourne Show, unknown year. From the early 1990s, the Animal Nursery introduced programs where visitors could see more farm experiences, such as milking cows, sheering sheep, and an ewe birthing centre.Black and white photograph, landscape, printed on glossy paper.[annotations on reverse] Pg 27 67% / W.F.08 1.55 / 3 / DOUBLE TAKE / 18 CARLYLE ST. ASHWOOD / VICTORIA, 3147. 25 7635 / 0 1192-C29 / P. 11/ 33% /children, kids at show, farm experiences, cow, dairy cow, milking, animal nursery

Strathewen Public Hall, social and spiritual centre was later lost in the Black Saturday fires 2009. The Strathewen Community decided a community hall was needed in 1901. In 1902 locals built the hall with messmate trees. It was located on the Cottlesbridge-Strathewen Road. The first function was a Grand concert and Balll attended by about 120 people. Several denominations held Church services and Sunday School services in the Hall. It survived several bushfires until after this photo was taken when it was destroyed in Black Saturday, 9 February 2009. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p89 Strathewen was settled late, largely because it was difficult to access.1 Early selectors found it a struggle to survive. They had to do everything themselves, from felling trees for buildings, to taking produce to market along bush tracks that they had helped cut. Small dairy farms were typical but fruit became the district’s prime produce. The first settlers east of Arthurs Creek were brothers John and Duncan Smith whose station Glen-Ard was probably operated as a sheep run. Other early settlers were the Mann family, who were to donate land for the hall, provide postal services and John Mann was an Eltham Shire councillor from 1916 to 1919.2 In 1873 James Mann, his wife Jane and their six children, settled on 207 acres (83.7) (Lang Fauld Farm) on both sides of Eagles Nest Road, from the foot of Mount Sugarloaf to the bank of the Arthurs Creek. In 1883 James took up another selection on Chads Creek. It was very hard work and at times he was well behind with his rent. However the family had a good social life, attending the Primitive Methodist Church at the Arthurs Creek Township and on New Year’s Eve throwing a party for all the locals. By 1874 James Mann’s younger brother, John, selected 311 acres (125.8ha) between Eagles Nest Road and upper Arthurs Creek. He called it Carseburn after his home parish in Scotland. Tragically in 1875 John drowned in the Yarra River, at Richmond.3 John Mann’s oldest son, also John, later purchased Duncan Smith’s land, which he named Violet Glen. He was to give one acre (0.4ha) of this land for the Strathewen Hall site. A Mann family diary written at Carseburn in 1897, tells how the district’s name was selected. Strathewen is derived from ‘strath’ meaning ‘broad mountain valley’ and from the name of Ewen H. Cameron, the local parliamentarian for almost 40 years. ‘George Brain came around to get a petition signed to get a post office up here and we had to vote for a name—Strathewen, Glen-Ard, or Headcorie’.4 It was at Carseburn that a public meeting in 1901, decided to build the Strathewen Hall on the Cottlesbridge-Strathewen Road. In 1902 the locals built the hall with messmate trees. The first function was a Grand Concert and Ball attended by around 120 people and several Protestant denominations took turns to hold church services and Sunday School there. Fortunately the hall has survived bushfires to be the town’s spiritual and social centre.5 The area continued to develop and in 1909 a post office operated somewhere at Strathewen and from around 1916 at Carseburn.6 It was not until 1914 that land was bought to establish the Strathewen State School on School Ridge Road. The residents paid £100 to build it on two acres (0.8 ha) while the Education Department contributed £30 and leased the building annually for £1. When teacher Miss Mary Golding opened the school in 1917, it had no equipment.7 But in 1921 the Education Department provided desks and a hexagonal shelter shed (now a rare style in Victoria) and took control in 1925.8 By 1917 Strathewen was booming.9 George Apted had built a coolstore in 1916, and local orchardists bought storage space until the 1950s. This allowed the area to supply the market in and out of season. Guesthouses catered for growing tourism. In the mid 1920s Mrs Eleanor Sparkes built the guest-house Singing Waters, which operated through the 1930s. Her daughter Mrs Vera McKimmie, ran it until the 1950s and the house remains in Chads Creek Road. In the Great Depression land was cleared for timber to be sold as firewood and there was small scale sawmilling. However the orchard industry diminished for several reasons including the 1939 bushfires and rapid changes in production methods. Today the Apteds still operate an orchard and farm at Glen-Ard, which straddles the border between Strathewen and Arthurs Creek. It includes the southern part of Duncan Smith’s original Glen-Ard selection.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, strathewan public hall

Situated at the top of the hill in Arthur Street, the former Jelbart residence and barn were part of a major change that transformed Eltham's character in the late 1960s. Built from the mid 1940s through mid 1950s when Eltham was a rural community, the Jelbrat residence and barn are all that remain of a family property of some 250 acres (100 ha). With growing population pressures, in the late 1960s, owners Ron and Yvonne Jelbart decided to subdivide their property creating the Woodridge Estate in the early 1970s, a major factor towards the transformation of Eltham to the suburb it is today. The Jelbarts had moved to Eltham in the early 1940s when they purchased a poultry farm in New Street, now Lavendar Park Road. (The local Black Friday bushire of January 13, 1939 had started at C.A. (Clarrie) Hurst’s Eltham Poultry Farm and Hatchery in New Street.) Jelbart was primarily a businessman importing office machinery but desired farm beef and dairy cattle so the couple purchased the virgin bushland at what was then at the end of a dirt road, Arthur Street. With post war shortages of most building materials, they followed the example of the Eltham Artists' Colony (later called Montsalvat) and built thier home from mud-bricks and recyclked materials. The barn was first to be completed in 1945 which they made their home whilst building the main residence. It took eight years to complete the two buildings. Both the main residence and the barn are now separate homes, and along with the remaining property being sub-divided further in 1998 are now part of the Kinloch Gardens Estate at 93 Arthur Street. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p139 Standing on a hilltop at Arthur Street, Eltham, the Jelbart residence and former barn were part of a major change that transformed Eltham’s character in the late 1960s. Built from the late 1940s to the mid 1950s when Eltham was a rural community, they are all that remain of what was once a family property of around 250 acres (100 ha). As population pressure increased in the late 1960s, owners Ron and Yvonne Jelbart, decided to subdivide their property. The break-up of this property into the Woodridge Estate in the early 1970s, was a major factor towards transforming Eltham into the suburb it is today.1 Although standing only a few minutes from Eltham’s busy hub and hundreds of houses in Woodridge, scarcely any urban sound disturbs the peace. Views from the two buildings are almost exclusively of trees and extend to Mt. Dandenong to the south-east, the Great Divide to the north, and Melbourne city to the south-west. The Jelbarts had lived in Eltham since the early 1940s when they bought a poultry farm in New Street, now Lavender Park Road. Although Jelbart was primarily a businessman importing office machinery, he was keen to farm dairy and beef cattle, so the couple bought rough bushland at what was then the end of Arthur Street. But a shortage of building materials following World War Two hampered their plans to build their new home, so they followed the example of the Eltham Artists’ Colony (later called Montsalvat) and used mud-bricks and recycled materials.2 With great determination the family and friends constructed their house. Massive timber frames and huge quantities of mud-bricks were made on site. The barn was built first in 1945, and two years later, while camping inside, the Jelbarts started building their house. It took eight years to construct the two buildings, even with the help of professional tradesmen. The buildings, with timber frames infilled with mud-brick and plastered, are reminiscent of the English Tudor style. The Jelbarts are of Cornish stock. Much of the timber framework came from demolished bridges or warehouses, and recycled slate was used for roofs and floors. Quality second-hand materials were readily available in the late 1940s and 1950s when there was much demolition in Melbourne and little respect for heritage. A former 19th century Toorak mansion Woorigoleen provided the magnificent stone fireplace, the timber panelling and the parquetry floor in the living room. The large stone gateposts at the entry of the property came from Melbourne University. Almost no mechanical equipment was used to build the 55 square house and the 25 square barn. Massive timber frames were erected using block and tackle pulleys and timbers were shaped, sawn and drilled by hand. Son and architect Ian, with his family, have lived in and extensively renovated both buildings since the early 1970s. Ian transformed the steep ridge of the property into a plateau, where the main house Kinloch stands, surrounded by terraces and lawns. The grounds retain many native plants, including massive yellow boxes – some nudging 80 years. Ian attached 70 metres of pergolas draped with wisteria, roses and grape vines, to three sides of the house. The beautiful garden is featured in the book Through the Rose Arbour by Rosemary Houseman. The two-storey barn – now a house – retains traces of its original use. The cow-shed with milking and feed-rooms, and the machinery-shed remain. The house, separated on the ground floor by a breeze-way, soars two storeys and includes a mezzanine. These are connected by spiral staircases, to timber-beamed and plaster-lined high-pitched ceilings. The house also descends to a wine cellar. Curiously the roof is of corrugated iron on the south and slate on the north, to save costs. Small-paned windows and three French doors open onto the front lawn, which extends to Jelbart Court.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, eltham, arthur street, jelbart barn, jelbart home, kinloch gardens

Stuchbery Farm was situated on the Plenty River bounded by Smugglers Gully to the north and La trobe Road, Yarrambat, to the east. Alan and Ada Stutchbery moved to the valley in 1890, first living in a tent where four children were born. Alfred built a home and outbuildings around 1896. They planted an orchard, then a market garden and developed a dairy. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p179 The dramatic steep-sided Plenty Gorge lies along the divide of two geological areas, and separates the Nillumbik Shire and the City of Whittlesea. On the Nillumbik side are undulating hills and sedimentary rock, and in Whittlesea, lies a basalt plain formed by volcanic action up to two million years ago. This provides the Plenty Gorge Park with diverse vegetation and habitats, making it one of Greater Melbourne’s most important refuges for threatened and significant species. The park, established in 1986, consists of around 1350 hectares, and extends 11 kilometres along the Plenty River, from Greensborough to Mernda. It provides a wildlife corridor for around 500 native plant and 280 animal species.1 The area’s plentiful food and water attracted the Wurundjeri Aboriginal people and then European settlers. By 1837 squatters had claimed large runs of land for their sheep and cattle. The Plenty Valley was among the first in the Port Phillip District to be settled - mainly in the less heavily timbered west - and was proclaimed a settled district in 1841.2 But by the late 1880s, the settlers’ extensive land clearing for animal grazing, then agriculture, depleted the Wurundjeri’s traditional food sources, which helped to drive them away. Many Wurundjeri artefacts remain (now government protected), and so far 57 sites have been identified in the park, including scarred trees, burial areas and stone artefacts. Pioneer life could be very hard because of isolation, flooding, bushfires and bushrangers. Following the Black Thursday bushfires of 1851, basalt was quarried to build more fire-resistant homes. Gold discoveries in the early 1850s swelled the population, particularly around Smugglers Gully; but food production made more of an impact. In the late 1850s wheat production supplanted grazing. In the 1860s the government made small holdings available to poorer settlers. These had the greatest effect on the district, particularly in Doreen and Yarrambat, where orchards were established from the 1880s to 1914. Links with a prominent early family are the remains of Stuchbery Farm, by the river’s edge bounded by Smugglers Gully to the north and La Trobe Road, Yarrambat, to the east. The Stuchberys moved to the valley in 1890, and the family still lives in the area. In 1890, Alfred and Ada first lived in a tent where four children were born, then Alfred built the house and outbuildings around 1896. They planted an orchard, then a market garden, and developed a dairy. The family belonged to the local Methodist and tennis communities. Their grandson Walter, opened the Flying Scotsman Model Railway Museum in Yarrambat, which his widow, Vi, continues to run. Wal was also the Yarrambat CFA Captain for 22 years until 1987. Walter sold 24 hectares in 1976 for development - now Vista Court - and in 1990, the remaining 22.6 hectares for the park. Remaining are an early stone dairy and remnants of a stone barn, a pig sty and a well.3 Until it was destroyed by fire in 2003, a slab hut stood on the Happy Hollow Farm site, at the southern end of the park. The hut is thought to have been built in the Depression around 1893. This was a rare and late example of a slab hut with a domestic orchard close to Melbourne. Emmet Watmough and his family first occupied the hut, followed by a succession of families, until the Bell family bought it around 1948. There they led a subsistence lifestyle for 50 years, despite encroaching Melbourne suburbia.4 The Yellow Gum Recreation Area includes the Blue Lake, coloured turquoise at certain times of the year. Following the 1957 bushfires, this area was quarried by Reid Quarries Pty Ltd for Melbourne’s first skyscrapers, then by Boral Australia. However in the early 1970s water began seeping into the quarry forming the Blue Lake and the quarry was closed. The State Government bought the site in 1997 and opened it as a park in 1999.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, ada stuchbery, alan stuchbery, dairy, stuchbery farm, farm buildings, yarrambat, plenty gorge park

Sydney Herbert Hazeldene (1893-1966) was born in Bath, England and arrived in Australia in 1906. HE walked for 10 days from Melbourne to Bamawm, where he found work on a dairy farm. After 3 years he walked to Eaglehawk where he found work as a wheeler in a mine. He served in WW1 at Gallipoli, where he was wounded. After his return to Bendigo he married Mary Eales and they began a successful bus service. Unfortunately their two buses were destroyed by fire so they purchased a truck and began a removalist/carrier business serving locally and interstate. When the work became too heavy for Sydney he bought land and set up a dairy farm. They also moved into breeding chickens and soon this business overtook the dairying with the last cows sold in 1942. This was the beginning of Hazeldene's Poultry.Softcover book white front with black printed title. Memoir of 58 pages recounting author's husband's (Sydney Herbert Hazeldene) life. Inscribed on front cover 'For my dear son Dick with all my love Mother 26/11/1981'Mary Hazeldenebooks, biography